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New York Yankees Should Take Chance on Raul Ibanez for Struggling Offense

June 24th, 2014 at 1:20 PM By Doug Rush

The New York Yankees offense is again, struggling. Nothing new for the 2014 season, but this time, they're in the midst of a pennant race and trying to catch up to the Toronto Blue Jays, who are 2.5 games up on them in first place.

With the Yankees looking to the starting pitching market, it doesn't address their need for offense as well, and while the team might not look to the trade market to add a bat, they could always look to an old familiar name to help them.

On June 21, the Los Angeles Angels released Raul Ibanez after hitting just .157 with three home runs and 21 RBI in just 57 games and is now free to sign anywhere. Why not the Yankees give Ibanez a call to see if he can help the offense?

Ibanez, who last played with the Yankees in 2012 and hit .240 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI, is most remembered for his postseason heroics when he hit two home runs against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the ALDS and another home run in the ninth inning of Game 1 in the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers.

After the 2012 season, the Yankees were interested in bringing Ibanez back, but they waited too long to sign him and instead, he signed with the Seattle Mariners on a one-year deal and hit .242 with 29 home runs and 65 RBI in 124 games. Ibanez's name was always tied to the Yankees in trade rumors, but the Mariners were reportedly asking too much for a return deal and thus, Ibanez stayed in Seattle.

The Yankees again were tied to interest in Ibanez during the winter in free agency, but instead, he signed with the Angels on a one-year deal, but the Angels decided to cut him loose after he struggled to make it work in their offense.

The team could catch lightning in a bottle if they decided to give Ibanez another shot and put him in a ballpark where it's suited for his swing and obviously, a place where he had a ton of success in.

While a 42-year-old bat might not seem like the most dire need for the Yankees, remember, their offense is struggling badly right now and they can't exactly be too picky when it comes to needing help, especially from a former playoff hero who is nothing but a class act and a professional hitter.

If it doesn't work out, the Yankees can simply let him go, but on a low-risk contract, bringing Ibanez back for one more go in 2014 seems like a move the team should make.